Claire

Introduction

I am a GP working in the Inner City in Bristol and also currently working with the Public Health team at Bristol City Council. I have a general interest in women’s health and my current work is particularly focused on taking a system-wide approach to promoting and supporting physical activity among pregnant women and postnatal mums. Like many professionals, I became particularly drawn to this area after becoming a Mum myself and going through my own pregnancy and postnatal journey. I am working with partners in public health, healthcare, leisure and community organisations to try and enhance the awareness and knowledge around physical activity in pregnancy and postnatally and to enhance provision particularly for women living in Bristol Inner City and those from BAME backgrounds.

Importance of Health and Activity

Physical activity has a role in prevention and treatment of most of the conditions that I see and treat in primary care. I discuss physical activity with patients most days. As well as many physical health benefits, it has a key role in supporting mental health.

There is evidence that physical activity in pregnancy is good for both Mum and baby and there are many benefits of mums returning to physical activity after they have given birth. Exercise in pregnancy can reduce the risk of high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and weight gain – these are all risk factors for poor birth outcomes which particularly impact women from BAME groups and socioeconomically deprived areas. Pre- and postnatally it can also help with aches and pains, sleep and mood. Being active and doing pelvic floor exercises can also strengthen the pelvic floor and reduce the risk of pelvic floor problems such as urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse which impact women often later in life.  I’m keen to support women to be physically active during this period of transition to motherhood because of the short and longer-term benefits for their health.

I have always been interested in this area and felt that there was a gap in provision but it became more apparent to me during my own journey into motherhood. Despite my medical knowledge I was taken aback by the physicality of the postnatal phase and found that fitting in short sessions of exercise was really key for me in managing my physical recovery as well as my mental wellbeing. I feel that as a society and healthcare system we could do better at looking after new Mums and supporting their recovery and transition. There are so many benefits to physical activity including boosting mood and helping sleep, supporting a healthy weight and managing musculoskeletal pains.

Importance of Opportunities for Women and Girls

We know that women and girls are less likely to be active and many have additional barriers to overcome. I think it is really important that physical activity is made visible, normalised and promoted and that there are accessible options available.

We know from studies that pregnant and post-natal women report common barriers to exercise such as time, childcare, money, knowledge, fear, facilities. In certain communities there are additional cultural and religious barriers such as needing to exercise indoors, in a women’s only group and with female instructors. Mums with babies and young children can find it hard to carve out time alone, so exercise may need to incorporate their children.

I think that these barriers remain very real. We are working to overcome them and from the women I speak to there is a real enthusiasm to take up opportunities which are accessible to them in their local community.